35 Weeks Pregnant

How are those energy levels holding up?

A lot of women experience a final surge of energy in these final weeks of pregnancy and generally speaking this is when the 'nesting instinct' kicks in as you make the final preparations for your new arrival.

Changes to you and your body

Hopefully you will feel a little more energetic over the coming weeks as you near the end of your pregnancy journey. Great news if you are, but you should remain mindful, pace yourself and be careful not to do too much at this stage. Some women exeprience pain in their pelvis and legs in their final weeks from their baby's weight, this is perfectly normal and caused by your baby pressing on your nerves as it grows.

You will still be gaining weight at this stage of your pregnancy and it is normal to walk at a slower pace or feel the need to stop and rest on occasions. If you feel in danger of overdoing it, consider asking for help when you most need it. Your friends and family will be more than happy to oblige!

Your baby is now so big it will be pressing on your stomach which may mean that you may feel fuller much quicker than usual. If this is the case, try eating little and often as this will feel much more comfortable than large, whole meals. While you may be snacking throughout the day, you should always try to snack healthily and save the cakes and chocolate for treats!

Changes to your baby

At 35 weeks, your baby's lungs are now almost completely developed. Your baby's pupils will be able to dilate (widen) in response to light and your baby will have started practising the suckling actions they will need to feed once they are born. Amazingly, your baby's brain and nervous system are now also fully developed and their tiny baby bones will have begun to harden whilst their skull will remain soft enough to allow you to give birth.

At 35 weeks, your baby weighs the same amount as a honeydew melon, around five and one-quarter pounds or 2.4 kilograms and measures a little more than 18 inches or 47 centimetres in length. If you have kept track of your baby's weight throughout your pregnancy, you will notice that your baby is continuing to gain weight. Your baby's size also means that he or she will struggle to move around as freely in your uterus as they once did.

At 35 weeks, your baby weighs the same amount as a honeydew melon, around five and one-quarter pounds or 2.4 kilograms and measures a little more than 18 inches or 47 centimetres in length.

Tips for a happy pregnancy

You may continue to experience Braxton Hicks contractions at 35 weeks as your body prepares itself for labour. These practice contractions typically don't last any longer than a minute in length but may be experienced several times per day, however, if your contractions occur more frequently, last longer than a few minutes or are painful you should consider contacting your midwife.

You may also notice that you experience increased vaginal discharge such as a mucus discharge with a tiny bit of blood in it. This is known as ‘the show' and is the release of the jelly-like plug that sealed the cervix. This is a sign that your body is preparing for labour.

If you are driving at this stage of pregnancy, your bump may make driving more difficult. There's no reason why you shouldn't continue to drive if you feel well and comfortable enough to do so, just always make sure that you place your seat belt beneath your bump whilst driving.

Now would also be a good time to consider making a list of all the people you will need to contact when you go into labour in preparation for the coming weeks.